FROM OUR EXPERTS

Swelling is not a common symptom of sciatica. Common sciatica symptoms include

feeling numbness or tingly sensations, pain, weakness, trouble moving your leg or controlling its movements. Sometimes coughing or straining or stooping or sitting in one position will accentuate sciatica.

Swelling may be caused by many things including some kidney or liver problems or from an obstructed vein or other things. Sometimes there is no clear reason for leg swelling but it's a symptom you should definitely get checked out. Be sure to consult with your physician on this. Good luck!

Hi thanks for replying. I have all of the above symptoms waiting on doc's letter to go have an MRI and a spinal block. The swelling in my leg has gone now, I did mention it to doc but he didnt really have much to say. Hopefully MRI will tell me whats wrong.

“Sciatica” is an old world term that refers to leg pain felt down the back of the thigh into the calf and foot. What about thigh pain? What about buttock pain? Unfortunately, “sciatica” has been wrongly applied to all types and locations of leg pain. In 1948, the use of the word “sciatica” was declared “unhelpful” by a leading orthopedic specialist because it is limited to a certain location and really does not address the origin of the pain. Over the years, many older medical terms like sciatica have become archaic as the newer research technologies give doctors clearer definitions and a better understanding of the human body. Leg pain that comes from the low back is most accurately categorized as referred pain or neurogenic pain. These terms apply to all locations and address the origin of the pain. With these newer terms, the antiquated word, “sciatica”, has no place in the modern world. Sally has been waking up with right ...

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